Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

Painting is my go-to. I love the playfulness of the color palette and my ability to bring my paintings to life. Colors evoke emotions, and being able to spark the adventurous and curious nature within my community members is a gift I love to express. Using color requires me to embrace the journey, just as my time in conservation. You will make mistakes along the way, and embracing that fact as part of your journey takes you places that perfection will never get you.

Where do you find inspiration?

This is a challenging question; I often just get hit with a random vision, though environmental factors can play a part. Smells, emotions, and sensations that trigger my senses. This could be the sound of bird wings cutting through the air, the smell of the wildflowers, or the sensation of mud in between my toes. I'm rather sensitive to stimuli, so those all spark profound emotions within me. Whether it is self-sprung inspiration or sparked by an outside source, my spirit has to be sparked.

What would you do with $25,000?

My plans for winning would be to use the funds as an opportunity to deepen my creative journey and to invest in expanding my resources, all while benefiting my community. I would use these funds as support to further my reach of expression, sharing stories, sparking curiosity, and fostering emotional well-being. My journey is about sparking a lasting impact for healing and connection through the shared language of art and inspiring change within my communities.